Dispensing valve



Oct. 16, 1956 A. E. WILSHUSEN DISPENSING VALVE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 w n EQ. Azzgggmw 2 fi a .w w WM IN VEN TOR ATTOfZNEY- United States Patent fDISPENSING VALVE Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,196

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-394) This invention has to do with improvements in capand valve assemblies of a type applicable to gas-charged containers forproducts such as cream, mayonnaise and the like, and operable todispense the gas-permeated material in an expanded or whipped conditioncreated by the gas expansion upon release from the container.

Generally considered, the invention is directed to improved featuresapplying to a dispensing valve assembly comprising a container cap orclosure, a valve seating upwardly toward or against the closure andhaving a tubular stem extending through the cap and conductive of thefluid to be dispensed. Primarily the invention is concerned with theprovision of a member preferably of cap-like form, so associated withthe stem as to contain it and serve the purposes of locking the sternagainst valve opening movement.

With respect to the general cap and valve assembly, the inventioncontemplates accommodation of the valve and its stem within any ofvarious forms of caps or crowns, preferably in a manner taking advantageof a standard form of cap and its ready applicability to any of variouscontainers necked to accommodate the cap. In this type of assembly, thevalve and stem are accommodated for both axial and lateral tiltingmovements so that the valve may be unseated fully or partially about itsperiphery, the latter being the more usual condition. In accordance withthe invention, provision is made for locking the valve against opening,as during shipping and distribution of the product, and by the samemeans, for containing and enclosing the stem. In the later describedspecific embodiment of the invention, such means has the form of atubular nozzle element threaded on the stem for movement into and out ofengagement with the cap, and carrying an annular flange serving as afinger piece by which the valve may be opened by pressure applied at anylocation about the stem.

All the various features and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment will be understood more fully fromthe following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a general view, mainly in elevation, showing one form of theinvention with the dispensing head rocked to valve opening position,certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly show theconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing all the dispenser parts incross-section and with the 'head in valve closing position;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the dispenser parts positioned as shown inFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a varia tional andpreferred form of the invention.

First it may be mentioned that the dispensing head and valve assembly,generally indicated at 10, is applicable to containers of various shapesand sizes and for the purpose of dispensing any material, of which creamand mayonnaise are typical, capable of being transformed into expandedor whipped condition by virtue of the expansive eiiect, upon release, ofa gas such as nitrogen dioxide,

2,766,913 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 with which the container is chargedunder substantial pressure. As previously indicated, however, it isfound particularly advantageous to use a form of container having amouth so shaped and sized as to be receivable within and closed by theordinary type of crimp-edge crown or cap.

Referring to the drawing, the container 11 is shown to have a mouth 12to which is applied a cap 13, the edge of which is crimped down aboutthe container. The cap contains a circular seal 14 made of a deformableand resilient material, preferably rubber (e. g. neoprene) serving thedual purposes of a seal between the mouth and cap to prevent fluidescape from the container, and of a seat for the valve, generallyindicated at 15. If desired, the center portion of the seal may bethickened downwardly at 16 to present a flat face valve seat 17, andupwardly at 18 to extend through opening 19 in the cap.

The valve 15, preferably of plastic composition, has a head 20 and anintegral tubular stem 21 extending through opening 22 in the seal 14,the latter thus engaging and forming a fluid-tight seal about the stem.The valve head 20 contains an annular recess 23 communicable with thestem bore 24 through radial, circularly spaced openings 25 or 26 in thestem 21. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the openings 25 may be positionedabove the seating surface 27 of the head so that when the valve isclosed the openings 25 will be sealed with the bore of the seal 18, butare brought below the face 17 when the valve is open, thus permittingfluid escape from the container through the openings 25 into the stembore 24. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the openings 26 arepositioned below the seat face 17 and at all times in communication withthe recess 23.

The assembly 10 comprises a tubular head 30 threaded at 31 on the stem21 for adjustment axially thereof into and out of engagement with thecap 13. Dispensing nozzle 32 inserted in the end of the head 30 has apassage 33 in alignment and open communication with the stern bore 24.During shipment and distribution of the container and attached valveassembly 10, and between uses thereof, the nozzle 32 may be closed by acap 34. Unseating of the valve is resisted by coil spring 35 containedwithin the head opening 36 about the stem 21, and bearing against thecap 13 and the head shoulder 37.

Following initial charging of the container with its contents, and toassure against inadvertent opening of the valve, the head may be screweddown on the valve stem to the point of engagement with the cap 13, thuslocking the valve against either axial or tilting opening movement. Whenthe contents of the container are to be dispensed, the head 30 may beunscrewed away from the cap to permit whatever range of valve opening isdesired, although preferably the head is turned only to an extent givingthe valve such limited opening as will restrict the dischargesufliciently to prevent excessive flow. With the head thus released, thevalve ordinarily and most conveniently will be opened by a lateral orrocking movement of the head and valve stem assembly, as illustrated bythe Fig. 1 position. With the container 11 held in one hand, the headand valve stem assembly may be tilted very conveniently and in anydirection, by thumb pressure applied to the diverging circular headflange or skirt 30a. Upon release of the finger pressure, spring 35immediately restores the valve to closed position.

In addition to assuring complete distribution of fluid from thecontainer about the stem for discharge through openings 25 or 26 whenthe valve is unseated, recess 23 serves a further purpose in providingspace for the accumulation of liquid, e. g., cream, between successiveopenings of the valve. The presence of liquid. as dis- 1 solvent.

7 through radial openings 50jwith the stern bore 51.

maintenance of a complete seal against the, escape of 7 gas from thecontainer when the valve is closed Fig. "4 illustrat'es a variationalform of the invention 'adapted to a more simplified and economicalconstruction largelyby reason of the elimination of the spring 35 andutilizing anextension of the cap seal as a resilient valve seatingelement. Here the crown cap 46 is shown to contain a rubber seal 41which may have a substantially flat or planar under-face engaged by thevalve 42, the seal having a tubular portion 43 extending up through thecap a substantial distance and exteriorly confining the stem 44 belowits flange 45. As before, the head 46 carries a nozzle 47 and isthreaded at 48 on the stem. 2 The valve 42 may be formed as a plastichead applied to and integrated with the lower end of the stem after itsinsertion through the cap, as by a suitable binder or Annular recess49in the head communicates As previously indicated, in use thevalveordinarily will be opened simply by lateral tilting of the head. Heresuch movement of the parts is resisted by rubber'sleeve 43, theresiliency of which restores the valve to'closed position when fingerpressure against the head is released. It will be;noted that thebottomsurface of the flange 45 is undercut for reception of theupper end' ofthe sleeve, a feature, of advantage for insuring maintenance of agas-tight seal as when the container is being charged with gas underpressure by application of a filling head (not shown) to the stem 21'before placement of,the

head 46 thereon.

I claim:

For use with a gas-pressure dispenser adapted to dispense a fluid ingas-expanded state, a dispensing valve assembly comprising a capfadapted to be secured to the mouth of the container and havinga centralopening, an annular valve seat positioned against the under side of thecap in registration with, its central opening, a valve having a sternextending upward through the said annular valve seat and opening andhaving a head at the lower end of the valve stem, said head including anouter seating margin adapted to engage upwardlyand seat against theiannular valve seat, the valve head further having an annular fluiddrain recess radially inward References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,954 Dey Aug. 28, 1951 2,615,597 Tomaseketal. Oct. 28, 1952 2,704,622 Sofler Mar. 22, 1955' -.2,709,111

Green May 24, 1955

